Page 101 of Burn With Me

“She—”

“Will be fine,” Shep interrupts me. “He wouldn’t do anything in a room full of people. You know that.”

He’s right. I know he is, but my mind can’t seem to catch up with that fact. All it can process is that the girl that I claim as mine—the one I want above all others for some ungodly reason is standing in front of the most dangerous man I know and I’m not between them. The only protection she currently has is the thinly veiled expectations of public interaction. That isn’t enough. Hell, bulletproof glass wouldn’t be enough. My insides churn with untapped anxiety. It rolls through me.

Aurora’s face twists lightly, but she represses her pain and only anger shows through. I can’t hear the two of them from where I am, but I know that he’s saying something to her. Something threatening. She responds and then, finally, her pain shows through. Her lips tighten and she winces.

“Fuck.” I shove Shep away from me, and he all but tackles me as he yanks me back, pinning my arms against my sides as I try to fight back. He spins me away from the sight of Aurora and my father. Luck, unfortunately, is not on my side tonight because as I rear back, ready to slam my head into his to get him to release me, Paris appears.

“Help me, asshole!” Shep hisses, trying not to draw attention to our little fight. Considering that most of the ballroom is wholly focused on Aurora and my father, it’s not hard for them to do.

“This way.” Paris gestures to a side door and Shep bodily lifts me off my feet.

“Goddamn it, you fucker!” I anchor a foot against the door, but Paris moves forward and punches me right in the leg and then again in the side of the head without restraint.

“Don’t be stupid,” he growls, getting in my face. “If you want to make it through tonight, don’t be a fucking baby, asshole.”

I don’t even get a chance to respond as Shep shoves me out into a back hallway. I slam into the opposite wall. An employee coming up one side of the corridor takes one look at us and turns right around, skittering off.

“He fucking touched her!” I growl, rounding on the two of them as Shep and Paris each cross their arms over their chests and stand in front of the door we just came through.

“Don’t lose your fucking head, man,” Paris barks. “Stay calm. He can’t do anything to her out there.”

“I need to make sure she’s okay,” I argue, marching forward.

Shep puts out a hand, stopping me. “No.”

I turn away from the two of them, rage pouring through me as I shove my hands up through my hair, grabbing onto chunks of it and yanking hard even as my breath saws in and out of my chest. Paris drops his arms and steps forward.

“Go contact your agent friend,” he suggests. “We’ll go back in and make sure that she gets away safely.”

Several beats pass. I breathe hard—in and out. In and out. “Yeah…” I release a breath. “You’re right.” I straighten. “Follow her, though,” I snap. “I want you to make sure she gets home and in her dorm. Both of you.”

Paris and Shep exchange a look. Paris is the first to speak, pointing at me with a scowl. “Don’t do anything reckless,” he orders. “I swear to fuck, man, don’t mess this up. Too much is riding on it now. We’ll go take care of the girl, but do not, under any circumstances, lose it on Damien.”

I release a slow hiss through my teeth. “I got it.”

Each of them looks me over, narrowing their eyes as if they’re trying to sense a lie. “Fine, we’ll meet you later,” Shep finally agrees. “Remember, you still have access to the cameras we set up. You can check on her when you get home.”

I blow out a breath, holding my body absolutely still as they gingerly step back and then turn and walk away. I don’t move, not even a muscle as I listen to their footsteps recede. Only once I’m sure they’re gone do I turn back to the door and shove it open. The room is louder now, people not even bothering to whisper as their combined conversations grow into a dull roar.

Cheating? I never would have guessed…

—surprised? No. How many marriages does this make?

The daughter obviously doesn’t get along with Icari…

—like this are always dramatic. I never expected…

Ignoring the swirling comments that cascade around the room, I focus my intentions on looking for Aurora. I look and look, but Aurora is nowhere to be found. Neither is her brother, aunt, or mother.

My father, however, is still very much present. His expression is a barely restrained mask of civility as he stomps through the crowd. A short, suited man hurriedly follows at his side with a notebook as my father snaps orders at him. His head lifts and he meets my gaze—fury sparking in his eyes.

Fuck me. I already know—it’s going to be a while before I see the guys again. Before I see Aurora again. This is going to fucking hurt.

EPILOGUE: ISAAC

Hours later…

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